Asylum seekers describe hardship after Home Office hotel closures
14 reported2 unconfirmed
A single-source report from The Guardian describes the experiences of asylum seekers moved from a London hotel as part of a government pledge to close all asylum hotels. Huda, a 41-year-old engineering graduate from Tunisia, and her two children aged 10 and 12 were given a few days’ notice to leave Staycity hotel after the Home Office announced the closure of 20 hotels on 25 June, following 11 earlier closures this year. Legal challenges have been launched on behalf of some at the hotel, with a court order from deputy high court judge John Halford stating it is “arguable” the home secretary failed to consider the “adequacy” of the new accommodation. Huda’s 12-year-old daughter uses a wheelchair and has epilepsy and a heart condition; the family waited from 10am to 7pm for transport and now report cramped conditions with no fridge for medicine. Another asylum seeker, Farhad, says he was handed a Post-it note about his move and that a person undergoing chemotherapy was moved away from their hospital. A second mother and her sons were moved 549 miles to Aberdeen two days before one son’s A-level exams. A Home Office spokesperson stated the government will close every asylum hotel and that welfare remains a priority.
What’s reported
Huda, a 41-year-old engineering graduate from Tunisia, fled death threats from extended family and is waiting for an asylum application to be processed.
She and her two children aged 10 and 12 lived in two rooms in a London hotel for six months before being told with a few days’ notice they would be moved.
The Home Office decided to close Staycity hotel as part of a government pledge to move asylum seekers out of hotels into military barracks or shared housing.
On 25 June, the Home Office announced the closure of 20 hotels, following 11 earlier closures this year.
Legal challenges have been launched on behalf of some at the hotel over concerns about the government’s failure to assess individual vulnerabilities before mass evictions.
A court order from John Halford, sitting as a deputy high court judge, states it is “arguable” the home secretary failed to consider the “adequacy” of the accommodation asylum seekers were moved to from Staycity.
Huda’s 12-year-old daughter uses a wheelchair and has epilepsy and a heart condition; the family waited for transport from 10am to 7pm.
Huda reported the new hotel is cramped, her daughter sleeps on the floor, and there is no fridge for medicine.
Ralitsa Peykova, a solicitor at Deighton Pierce Glynn, said the hotel closures had been “complete chaos and a waste of taxpayers’ money.”
Chloe White, executive director of Action for Refugees in Lewisham, said “the human cost is high” and families are being ripped away from communities and specialist care.
Farhad, another asylum seeker, was handed a Post-it note saying he was being moved the following day with no reason given.
Farhad says he is a victim of trafficking, torture and labour exploitation, and has been diagnosed with PTSD and depression.
A second mother and her sons were moved 549 miles to Aberdeen two days before one son’s A-level exams.
A Home Office spokesperson said the government will close every asylum hotel and that welfare remains a priority.
Open questions
The specific number of asylum seekers affected by the hotel closures is not provided.
The outcome of the legal challenges is not reported.
Key figures
Huda (asylum seeker, 41, engineering graduate from Tunisia)
Farhad (asylum seeker, victim of trafficking)
John Halford (deputy high court judge)
Ralitsa Peykova (solicitor, Deighton Pierce Glynn)
Chloe White (executive director, Action for Refugees in Lewisham)
Home Office spokesperson (unnamed)
Sources: The Guardian
